If McNamara had waded deep enough online, he was probably also being blamed for staging the moon landings and keeping Elvis hostage in his spare bedroom.

It’s all the same to him. All nonsense. McNamara knows he is under pressure from the United support. A run of four wins in 22 does that. A 4-0 humping at Hamilton is going to make it a rough week.

The statement from the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs that was stuck online yesterday hung their hat on Campbell and hung the manager out to dry.

There may have been venom in the sometimes wacky worldwide web but McNamara remains determined not to be affected by the poison.

The Tannadice boss said: “It’s difficult to control perception, rumours and everything else that goes along with it.

“It’s a good thing I’m not on social media but snippets come back to me that are quite poisonous. That’s part and parcel of the job these days.

“Maybe that’s why managers don’t last long. I’m the longest-serving boss in the league with two-and-a-half years.

“That stuff on Saturday got back to me – same as it did when the same was said a few months ago, along with other things.

“How do you deal with it? You just get on with it. It’s the world we live in with social media.

“It’s difficult for people to control and it takes over people’s life.

“It’s personal but it has always been personal. You are the manager of a football team. People pay money to go and watch.

“It has been going on since football began but it’s different now because everyone has a voice. They have a computer they can hide behind and use false names.

“Sometimes opinions can become fact. That’s why we try to be proactive, rather than reacting to what people think and say.”

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From the outside looking in, Tannadice seems fractured. The Campbell affair has caused a divide but the club are adamant it’s not down to a clash between the youth coach and manager. There would be no need for an internal investigation if it were that simple.

McNamara just hopes for a swift conclusion – and a public explanation. He said: “It’s an internal matter but I’d like these things to be sorted so they can understand what’s going on.

“As far as statements bringing me into it, I would rather keep it within the club.

“People are jumping in but it’s best to let the club get it right.

“It’s not nice. You want everyone to be united together.

“We are halfway through a five-year plan. We have achieved more than we anticipated.

“We’ve got rid of the problems we inherited and hopefully we can keep getting stronger. Everything gets forgotten easily when you see some of the things being put out there these days.”

McNamara’s career has been on an upward trajectory since driving Partick Thistle to the verge of the Premiership, taking the United job and delivering a couple of cup finals and top-six finishes.

He has now hit some turbulence but is determined to ride it out.

The manager said: “There has been progression. Last season we managed more wins than the year before, despite the negativity.

“We got to a final, like we did the year before. When we came in United were in ninth place, last year we were sixth. It’s a results business, I get that, and I’ll continue to try to make this club better – despite all that’s going on.”

It just might need a bit of patience – from the keyboard warriors and the disgruntled punters.

Question -1 of 5Score -0 of 0

Besides Jason Day who was the last golfer to clinch their first Major by winning the US PGA Championship?